BS: BBC bias

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: Teribus
Date: 21 Sep 15 - 08:28 AM

BBC bias - of course the BBC is biased - if it wasn't then they would have had absolutely no problem in putting the Balen Report into the public domain, instead it spent upwards of £200,000 to ensure that the findings of that report never see the light of day.

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: Teribus
Date: 21 Sep 15 - 08:23 AM

"What I object to is that, instead of scrutinising his beliefs, or even explaining why full employment, peace, good quality housing and a world free from famine, disease and water shortages are somehow bad, the press and politicians relentlessly carry on this incessant character assassination."

Fred could you please give us any substantive evidence that ANYONE has stated that having "full employment, peace, good quality housing and a world free from famine, disease and water shortages" would be bad.

Only problem with Corbyn spouting on about those things is that listening to him it becomes perfectly clear that following his policies none of his declared objectives could ever be attained - they would only serve to make things worse than they already are.

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: Stu
Date: 21 Sep 15 - 05:15 AM

One thing's for sure, if Corbyn had been sticking his jake in a dead pigs head at university the BBC would have been all over it. Not an oink from them this morning.

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: Pete MacGregor
Date: 21 Sep 15 - 05:10 AM

It is to be expected that the various overseas based billionaire owners of most of the UK press will have instructed their minions to rubbish Corbyn at every opportunity.
When it comes to the BBC it looks as if many of their staff are looking to the possibility of moving to work for the 'dark side' and don't want to spoil their prospects.

For entertainment check out on YouTube Dennis Skinner putting a BBC spinnerette in her place.

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 21 Sep 15 - 02:49 AM

the bbc can't help what they are.

they're for the main part oxbridge types, from the south of the country.

north of watford and they're talking shite.

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 08:39 PM

But I suspect that the effect would have been to help the Yes vote.   When the bias is too strong it can backfire. People know the BBC is supposed not to take sides. The same probably applied in the Labour leadership contest.

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: GUEST,allan conn
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 06:54 PM

The study from the UWS which came out during the referendum debate came to the conclusion that all the broadcasters were biased in favour of the union but that the BBC were worse than ITV.

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 03:45 PM

When using terms like right wing and left wing it's important to appreciate within what context they are used. A right wing Labour supporter and a left wing Tory would have very much the same political philosophy, and it would be reasonable to call that centrist. But of course it would not be centrist Labour or centrist Tory - a centrist Tory would be well to the right of a right wing Labour supporter or left wing Tory.

Keith comes across as a centrist within the wider political spectrum, and a leftish Tory but clearly within a Labour context he would be well on the right.

It's a pretty elementary confusion. I think in the kids book I read there was the shortest giant in the world, and the tallest giant, and they were the same height.

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: akenaton
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 01:50 PM

I agree with Bonzo......Abbot is a liability.

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: GUEST,#
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 01:49 PM

"It's because God doesn't like lefties!"

Hard to argue with that logic.

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 01:48 PM

Do the BBC describe him simply as being left wing ? Or is it left wing the context of the Labour Party ? Most of us who follow UK politics would know what that means, and his track record as a 'rebel', especially since the rise of 'New Labour', is a part of that.

Is their a similar widely understood and easy to agree on term for David Cameron's position in his Party ? 'Good Soldier Schweik' in the OP seems to indicate that, for him, there is not. Otherwise why the list of possibilites ?

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 01:40 PM

It's because God doesn't like lefties!

Abbott & Corby!!

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 01:23 PM

i wonder if driving instructors get into arguments about which is left and which is right.

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: akenaton
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 01:23 PM

Keith has it about right.

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 12:36 PM

As I was saying in that other thread, and as Keith has made abundantly clear, people don't mind being called left-wing but object vehemently to being called right-wing.

People who were not in the least left wing might well object to being so labelled.
Why do you feel this need to label anyone who disagrees with you as right wing?
Although I think your far left views are unrealistic, that does not make me right wing.

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 11:50 AM

it's a good 35 years since higher education sociological courses called "Communications" / "Media Studies" etc
started filtering down into comprehensive school O + A levels.
The tories have always hated these fields of study,
tories don't want young 'impressionable' kids learning the truth about how media and news works
to maintain a right wing status quo;
and have done their best to marginalise and push these courses off the education curriculum...

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 11:47 AM

I agree that BBC is better than fox news or ITV, But they are not as even handed as they would like us to think

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 11:08 AM

I've no objection whatsoever to Jeremy Corbyn being called left wing. What I object to is that, instead of scrutinising his beliefs, or even explaining why full employment, peace, good quality housing and a world free from famine, disease and water shortages are somehow bad, the press and politicians relentlessly carry on this incessant character assassination.

In all the years I've been studying party leaders, I can't remember anyone having to endure such a relentless round of malicious tittle tattle.

It's time the naysayers either explained what they consider to be wrong and unworkable about Corbyn's politics, or else shut up.

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 10:27 AM

As I was saying in that other thread, and as Keith has made abundantly clear, people don't mind being called left-wing but object vehemently to being called right-wing. As for media bias, all media are biased in that they select what news they think we want to read/ that will stop you changing channel/will sell papers, and will put it where they like in their programme/publication and will decide how many column inches/how much airtime each item gets. Or they may just leave it out altogether. Bad offenders, such as tabloid papers, will subtly or not so subtly mix up news with opinion (viz. "Red Ed" every time the Mail reported on him). Political cartoonists add an extra layer of non-news.

Now we have that out of the way, watch tonight's news on the Beeb. You may or may not agree with me that, compared to almost every other media outlet, it's a shining beacon when it comes to trying to get it right. If you want to be intelligent about the news you have to work at it. Look at as many sources as you can. Hone your antennae to spot sneaky titbits of comment in the mix. See whether both sides are being covered. Use your brain. It's far better than moaning about media bias. If we didn't have media bias we wouldn't have media at all. And, as the other thread demonstrates, it's no use expecting the BBC to start labelling Cameron right-wing, as we can't even agree among ourselves what it means. The poor old Beeb, therefore, is on a hiding to nothing.

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 10:20 AM

Stanron, I am concerned because someone over on facebook[ who i know personally and i thought was intelligent, has stated that he thinks the BBC is unbiased].
the BBC calls itself independent, its licence fee is paid by the public, in my opinion if it unbiased it should either have a policy o describing the political centre of each party leader, or it should not make a comment at all, that is called being even handed or unbiased.

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 10:15 AM

The BBC biased ? just look how many years before a working class accent was heard, you still don't hear any except in dramas and only then if it's ' kitchen sink ' style, the BBC much prefers Downton feckin Abbey anytime.

Dave H

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: GUEST,Pete from seven stars link
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 10:01 AM

Definitely biased on origins, though I suppose they are merely parroting current majority academic belief.             Corbin left wing?....compared to Blair, not arf... But as observed elsewhere it is all relative. To be more precise they would need to say.....more left wing than the main contenders, or his immediate predecessor!

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: GUEST,#
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 09:51 AM

"The BBC describe Corbyn as left wing, yet when mentioning Cameron give no description."

Because if the BBC did describe Cameron it would go something like 'the pompous ego-driven self-aggrandizing piece of shite' and they would no doubt be sued. Clear enough for you, Dick?

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: Stanron
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 09:31 AM

GSS
Why are you concerned about the BBC calling Corbyn ;Left Wing'? Do you see it as an insult or slur? Is it something to be ashamed about. If you see it as a positive thing I would expect you to be pleased.

Anyway it's not just the BBC. I try to catch the papers reviews on BBC News and SKY News around Midnight most days. All the papers and SKY News call him Left Wing. It's the big difference between the old centre left Labour party and the new.

Although descriptions and opinions of Cameron will differ, we all know who and what he is. He hasn't changed. The Labour leadership has. Maybe the media in general thinks that we are all too thick to have noticed.

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: GUEST,Ian
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 08:54 AM

I thought this was glaringly obvious in the lead up to the election. When Dimbleby did the question time with the leaders.
With Cameron he constantly moved questions on.

With Milliband he allowed the same people to keep asking more and more questions. I believe the main woman to question him was part of the Tory campaign.

The whole thing was a disgrace!

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 08:52 AM

Steve, what did your comment mean?

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 08:13 AM

Anyone who thinks the BBC isn't biased should have talked with Ewan MacColl or Charles Parker while they were still alive, about the way they had to cut anything contentious or remotely left wing out of the radio ballads.

Yes, I know the Travelling People sparked off fires of controversy and quite right too. However, MacColl and Parker both knew this would be the last of the radio ballads. So they decided they'd got nothing to lose by telling it like they saw it.

Peggy Seeger told me once that the three of them were sitting in the BBC canteen when a highly inflated BBC bigwig came up.

"Ahh", he said "the radio ballad team. What interesting topic have next for us?"

MacColl, who must have been relishing this, said "Miners".

"Oh God", said the BBC bigwig, "not another bloody working class epic!"

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 08:07 AM

And Jesus wept.

Subject: RE: BS: BBC bias
From: akenaton
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 07:45 AM

That is the point Good Soldier, in UK politics, Cameron is a Liberal.
The centre of gravity has shifted dramatically as the middle class have become more prosperous.

Are the BBC biased? bloody right they are, but more from a social, than political perspective. Do you ever listen to any late night radio. Their mission seems to be the destruction of society.

Subject: BS: BBC bias
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 07:34 AM

The BBC describe Corbyn as left wing, yet when mentioning Cameron give no description.
if the BBC are to be unbiased they must surely put a description before Cameron when they talk about him [eg old etonian, right wing, centre right or whatever]
my point is that to be unbiased they must either leave out descriptons for both politicians. or describe both, to make a description for one and not the other is adding a bias. if for exanple they described Cameron as Centre or Right, But said nothing about Corbyn that too would be biased.
I wondered what the general opinion of others was, on this one